Swiss Institute is an independent non-profit contemporary art institution dedicated to promoting forward-thinking and experimental art making through innovative exhibitions, education, and programs. Committed to the highest standards of curatorial and educational excellence, Swiss Institute serves as a platform for emerging artists, catalyzes new contexts for celebrated work, and fosters appreciation for under-recognized positions. Open to the public free-of-charge, Swiss Institute seeks to explore how a national perspective can foster international conversations in the fields of visual and performing arts, design and architecture. The organization presents 10 shows a year in two gallery spaces: a first-floor main gallery that hosts major thematic and survey shows and a downstairs project space that offers artists a chance to experiment with new media and forms. Exhibitions often extend to the second-floor Public Programs Space, which includes a library and reading room that is open to the public and serves as the setting for weekly public events.